Once the rubber capital of the world — home to Goodyear, Firestone, and Goodrich — Akron reinvented itself as LeBron James' hometown and a polymer sciences hub.
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Founded1825|Population189,423|Peak290,351(1960)|CountySummit County
Top 10 Most Important Events for Akron, Ohio
1
1870Rubber Industry Begins: B.F. Goodrich established the first rubber factory in Akron, beginning the industry that would define the city for a century.
2
1898Goodyear Founded: Frank Seiberling founded Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, which grew into the world's largest tire maker.
3
1900Firestone Founded: Harvey Firestone founded Firestone Tire, making Akron home to three of the world's biggest rubber companies.
4
1936Goodyear Airdock: The massive Goodyear Airdock was built to construct airships — it remains one of the largest buildings in the world without interior supports.
5
2003LeBron James Drafted: Akron native LeBron James was drafted #1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting his hometown on the global sports map.
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Complete Historical Timeline
1825Government
Founded along Ohio & Erie Canal
1870Industry
B.F. Goodrich starts rubber industry
1898Business
Goodyear founded
1900Business
Firestone founded
1936Industry
Goodyear Airdock built
1960Government
Peak population 290,000
1982Industry
Rubber industry collapses
2003Sports
LeBron James drafted from Akron
Did You Know?
1
Akron's Goodyear Airdock is so large that clouds can form inside it — it covers 8.5 acres without a single interior support column.
2
LeBron James' I Promise School in Akron provides at-risk students with free tuition, meals, bikes, and guaranteed college scholarships.
3
At its peak, Akron produced over half the tires and rubber products in the entire world.
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